Capparis zeylanica L.
Family
Capparaceae
Synonyms
Capparis horrida L.f.
Vernacular Names
|
Indonesia |
Melada (General). |
|
Philippines |
Halubagat-baging (Tagalog), tarabtab (Ilokano), baralauik (Ibanag). |
|
Myanmar |
Nah-ma-nee-tanyet. |
|
Cambodia |
Rook saa. |
|
Thailand |
Sa ae (South-western), yieo kai (Eastern), thao lang maakkep (Northern). |
|
Vietnam |
C[as]p t[is]ch lan, gai den. |
Geographical Distributions
Capparis zeylanica is from India to Indo-China, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Java, Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands), and the Philippines.
Description
Capparis zeylanica is a climbing shrub, 2-5(-10) m tall with zigzag branches which are tawny to brownish red pubescence.
The leaves are ovate to elliptical, and measure 4-10(-18) cm x 3-6(-9) cm. The base is acute or obtuse, acute at tip, leathery, with 0.5-1.5 cm long petiole, 3-6 mm long thorns and recurved.
There are 2-5 flowers in a row, which are rarely solitary, with stout pedicel and 1-2 cm long. The sepals are concave, 1 cm long and hairy while the petals are 0.9-1.6 cm long, thin, white to pinkish, with the inner side turning darker later from pinkish to red. There are 30-50 stamens with 2.5-3.5 cm long filaments. They are pink but later turn to dark purple.
The gynophore measures 2.5-4.5 cm and hairy only towards the base. The berry is globular to ellipsoid and measures up to 5 cm x 4 cm. Seeds are numerous.
Ecology / Cultivation
Capparis zeylanica occurs in hedges, brushwoods, savannas, forest borders, at low and medium altitudes, and under seasonal climatic conditions.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
- Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
